Mobile computer hinge assembly

Abstract

An apparatus and method which allows a mobile display panel to rotate substantially 360 degrees is provided. In one embodiment, the mobile computer hinge assembly allows the mobile display panel to rotate from a closed position through a first operative position into a second operative position. With the lid in the second operative position, the mobile computer can now be docked to a docking station in an upright position, thus saving desk space and also allowing the mobile display to be used as a flat panel display, thus eliminating the need for a desktop monitor. With the lid in the second operative position, the computer can also now be used as a tablet computer. In this embodiment, the mobile display is a touchpad display.

1 . A mobile computer hinge assembly comprising: 
 a first hinge mountable to an outer vertical surface of a mobile computer lid;    a second hinge mountable to an outer vertical surface of a mobile computer chassis; and    a connecting member connectable to the first hinge and to the second hinge wherein the lid is rotatable substantially 360 degrees from a closed position through a first operative position into a second operative position when the hinge assembly is mounted to the outer surface of the lid and the outer surface of the chassis.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second hinge has a pivot mechanism substantially centered on a chassis centerline.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outer vertical surface of the lid is a lid side surface and the outer edge of the chassis is a chassis side surface.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outer vertical surface of the lid is a lid back surface and the outer vertical surface of the chassis is a chassis back surface.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4  wherein the lid back surface contains a lid hinge channel into which the first hinge is secured and the chassis back surface contains a chassis hinge channel into which the second hinge is secured, further wherein the two channels are in alignment with each other.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein the hinge assembly is substantially flush with the lid back surface and chassis back surface.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the lid hinge channel is oriented to allow the first hinge to rotate up to 360 degrees.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the chassis hinge channel is oriented to allow the second hinge to rotate up to 180 degrees.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the lid contains a display which faces a top surface of the chassis when the lid is in the closed position, further wherein the display faces a bottom surface of the chassis when the lid is in the second operative position.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9  wherein the display is angled for viewing by a user of the mobile computer when the lid is in the first operative position.  
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 9  wherein the mobile computer can be vertically docked to a docking station when the lid is in the second operative position.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 9  wherein the display is a touchpad display and the mobile computer can be used as a tablet computer when the lid is in the second operative position.  
     
     
         13 . An electronic device comprising: 
 a notebook computer having a chassis and a lid, the chassis containing at least one chassis hinge channel and the lid containing at least one lid hinge channel;    at least one first hinge mounted in the one lid hinge channel;    at least one second hinge mounted in the at least one chassis hinge channel of the chassis; and    at least one connecting member connecting each of the at least one first hinge to each of the at least one second hinge wherein the lid is rotatable substantially 360 degrees from a closed position through a first operative position into a second operative position.    
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 13  wherein there are two hinge assemblies comprised of two connecting members connecting each of two first hinges with each of two second hinges.  
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 14  wherein each hinge assembly is located towards opposing outer edges of the notebook computer.  
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 15  further comprising a docking station to which the notebook computer can be connected in a vertical position when the lid is in the second operative position.  
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 13  wherein the chassis contains a keyboard and mouse.  
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 13  further comprising a pressure switch to disable the keyboard and mouse, the pressure switch located on the back side of the chassis and activated when the lid is in the second operative position.  
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 13  further comprising a separator located on the chassis to prevent the chassis from contacting a work surface when the lid is in the second operative position and the chassis is facing the work surface.  
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 19  wherein the separator is comprised of two or more rubber pads located along edges of the chassis.  
     
     
         21 . The electronic device of  claim 19  wherein the separator is comprised of one or more rubber strips located along edges of the chassis.  
     
     
         22 . A system comprising: 
 a notebook computer having a display; and    one or more dual pivot hinge assemblies connected to the notebook computer wherein the one or more dual pivot hinge assemblies allows the display to rotate to a back side of the notebook computer.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the notebook computer is vertically docked to a docking station when the display is rotated to the back side.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the display is a touch pad display and the notebook computer is used as a tablet computer when the display is rotated to the back side.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the notebook computer further comprises a chassis having a separator, the separator adapted to prevent the chassis from contacting a work surface when the display is in the second operative position and the chassis is facing the work surface.